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BAKER DONELSON UPS BURKE: The law firm Baker Donelson has promoted Sheila P. Burke to the position of chair of the federal public policy group. Burke previously served a senior public policy adviser in Baker Donelson's Washington, D.C. office. Prior to that, she worked for 19 years on Capitol Hill. As chair of the firm's federal public policy group, Burke will oversee 19 employees across Baker Donelson's offices. "I am honored by the opportunity to lead this team of adept professionals and am confident that we will continue to thrive as we navigate the evolving climate of public policy," she said in a statement.

HEATHER PODESTA INKS PEETS: Specialty coffee roaster and retailer Peet’s has hired a long-time fan to represent its interests on the hill. Heather Podesta + Partners will work with policymakers to represent the Berkley-based company on a variety of coffee-related topics. In a Friday press release, Podesta proclaimed her love for Peet’s and her enthusiasm for working with the company. "As a student at UC Berkeley, I had my first cup of Peet’s coffee in the late '80s. Nothing compares,” Podesta said. “Whether it is their coffee or tea, to drink it, is to love it.” Peet’s has plans to open 20 new stores in the D.C. area this spring, converting several Caribou Coffee locations. This is the company’s first lobbying hire.

ACC STAFFS UP: The chemical industry trade association signed a second new lobbyist this month, adding Flynn & Associates to work on the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. The piece of legislation has been a talking point since a West Virginia chemical spill shut down businesses and left residents without drinkable water. The Chemical Safety Improvement Act would require comprehensive testing of commercial chemicals. ACC also signed Millian Byers Associates just last week to work on the Toxic Substance Control Act. The council spent more than $12 million on lobbying in 2013.

GOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON where its been 517 years since one of the most infamous bonfires of the vanities. On Feb. 7, 1497, followers of Italian priest Girolamo Savonarola collected and publicly burned thousands of objects that were seen as wicked or sinful — like cosmetics, mirrors, art, musical instruments and books — in Florence on day of the Mardi Gras festival. Send your lobbying news, gossip, tips and scoops to btau@politico.com. And keep up with PI on Twitter by following @ByronTau or @PoliticoPI.

DISCLOSURE THRESHOLD UPPED: The Federal Election Commission has upped the lobbying bundling disclosure threshold to $17,300 for 2014. Bundling, or fundraising, over that amount of money for a federal candidate triggers the disclosure requirement for federal candidates, leadership PACs, and political party committees. A few more details on the FEC website: http://1.usa.gov/MxM9y4

FERGUSON TO RUN DCCC IE PROGRAM: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has appointed Jesse Ferguson — current deputy executive director — as the 2014 independent expenditure director. In his new role, he’ll lead the committee’s independent efforts against House Republicans. “Jesse Ferguson has a relentless approach to strategizing and winning tough campaigns making him an excellent leader of the IE team,” said DCCC chairman Steve Israel. “Jesse has an unmatched understanding of the 2014 battlefield and the experience to elect problem solving Democrats to Congress.”

MWW’S ZEITZ RELEASES NEW BOOK: MWW’s Josh Zeitz has a new book hitting shelves this week. “Lincoln’s Boys” is a look at President Abraham Lincoln’s White House through the lives of his two closest aides, John Hay and John Nicolay. Zeitz is a former political aide and speechwriter, and as deputy director of MWW’s corporate practice. Amazon page for the book is here: http://amzn.to/1fOy22t

TODAY: POLITICO Facebook Q & A with Dylan Byers on the future of media: What do the recent moves by Nate Silver, Ezra Klein, James Carville and other names really mean? Ask your questions on this, the media’s Olympics coverage, new digital journalism ventures, the shifting world of cable news and more at www.facebook.com/politico today. Byers will answer questions live at 4 p.m. ET.

** MPA PROGRAM PROMOTES SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, CAREER GROWTH. Regent University's fully accredited Master of Public Administration could open new and profitable career opportunities that make a real difference. The Regent MPA strikes a balanced blend of principled theory and practice by integrating rigorous academics with service-learning opportunities — all from a Christian worldview. Classes are offered on campus and online: www.regent.edu/mpa **

TECH GIANTS HIRE MONUMENT: Tony Romm: Apple, Google, Facebook and five other technology giants that have banded together in their calls for surveillance reform officially registered a Washington lobbyist on Thursday. The new hire — tasked to represent a coalition that also includes AOL, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo — is a big political move for an industry that initially had tried to avoid the debate over the National Security Agency. Tech companies recently have become more engaged, however, as they discover they have serious business interests at stake. The so-calledReform Government Surveillance coalition hired Monument Policy Group, a firm that already represents Microsoft and LinkedIn individually. The group filed its formal lobbying registration Thursday, according to sources familiar with the matter. http://politi.co/1o10qSK The Monument registration is here: http://1.usa.gov/1nghwcc

DEM DONORS TO CONGRESS: GO FIND MONEY ELSEWHERE: Some big Democratic donors have a message for Congress: Don’t rely so much on the rich to fill your campaign war chests. A group of 60 wealthy donors and activists have signed onto a new letter urging Congress to create a system of public financing that would curtail their own influence in elections, according to a copy of the letter being sent to the Hill on Friday. Byron and Kevin Cirilli have the story:http://politi.co/1lGxnVP

WHY DOES AMERICA SEND SO MANY STUPID, UNQUALIFIED HACKS OVERSEAS? Because they’re good at fundraising and hobnobbing with politicians who eventually become president. http://politi.co/1aDzRzj

ELSEWHERE IN THE INFLUENCE WORD:

FROM CONGRESSMAN TO POT DEALER: Via Boston Magazine: [Bill Delahunt] "is now the biggest medical marijuana dealer in Massachusetts to have ever put people behind bars for using his new product ... Delahunt — now president of a company called Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts — has applied for three of just 35 licenses that can be awarded by the state. No stranger to accusations of underhanded deals, Delahunt was accused by the Massachusetts Republican Party of leveraging his relationship with DPH Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett — who once donated money to his PAC.” http://bit.ly/1bCWGS7

CHAMBER’S DONOR BREAKDOWN: From Public Citizen’s Chamber Watch program: “More than half of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s contributions in 2012 came from just 64 donors, according to a new report released [Thursday] by Public Citizen’s U.S. Chamber Watch program. The report … analyzes the 1,619 contributions listed by the Chamber and its affiliate working against consumer access to courts, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, on their 2012 Form 990 tax returns. The average reported contribution to the U.S. Chamber was $111,254, with the top 43 entities donating a combined $80.4 million.” http://bit.ly/1e9HZT8

BAUCUS LEAVES HIS MILLIONS BEHIND: As former Sen. Max Baucus heads off to his new ambassador role, he’ll leave more than $3.2 million in his war chest. The funds can’t be converted for personal use, but campaign committees can use them for any lawful purpose. A breakdown of money left on the table by retiring lawmakers, via Roll Call's Kent Cooper:http://bit.ly/1gaRvst

NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS:

Georgia Group Federal PAC (PAC)

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS: (Firm: Client)

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz: Thales USA

Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell: America's Central Port

Covington & Burling: Katrin Hansing

Flynn & Associates: American Chemistry Council, Inc

Franklin Creek Consulting: UKB Corporate Authority Board

Franklin Creek Consulting: William Sellery and Associates

Heather Podesta + Partners: Peets Coffee & Tea, Inc.

Kelley Drye & Warren: Alliance For American Manufacturing

Monument Policy Group: Reform Government Surveillance

Monument Strategies: Business Council for Global Development, LLC

The Furman Group: City of Camarillo, CA

Training Seminar: New Reg Test 2014

Water Strategies: Columbia Basin Development League

Water Strategies: National Water Resources Association

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS (Firm: Client (Type of Termination))

Tim Greeff: CalCEF Catalyst (Q4 Termination)

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A previous version of this tipsheet attributed a story about Sen. Max Baucus's campaign and leadership PAC funds to the wrong publication. It was Roll Call.